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When crimes are to be committed against the people, they are put off 
guard by the cry of patriotism. 

The man who cries out "Country above party(" then plunges his country 
to the depths of the Republican party, and votes a mortgage upon the 
children of the poor, is not a Democrat. 



SPEECH 



HON. JAMES HAMILTON LEWIS, 



OF WASHINGTON, 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 



TvdAY 3, 1898. 



WASHIXQXOM. 

I S9 s. 






V 



^• 



A* 






68309 



SPEECH 

OF 

HON. JAMES HAMILTON LEWIS, 



<•• 



The House being in Committee of the "Whole, and having under consider- 
ation the bill (H. K. oWl) for the relief of Henry J. Fleming- 
Mr. LEWIS of Washington said: 

Mr. Speaker: The records of the morning bring us the glorious 
news that Commodore Dewey, of our Navy, has entwined the Stars 
and Stripes around the trident of Neptune to be hereafter a menace 
to the world. [Applause.] 

It will, Mr. Speaker, be a dangerous precedent if this House 
continues to pursue a line to remove indiscriminate charges of 
desertion and then enter upon the rolls of the pension list the 
undeserving, and thus shut out those who must be needy; close 
its gates to those who undoubtedly must come hereafter. I have 
listened a great deal since 1 have been a member of the House to 
the constant cry of "patriotism,"' not only respecting these meas- 
ures, but respecting any and every measure that can be tendered 
upon this floor. 

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I can not recall an incident where a 
measure has been tendered to this House, however meritorious or 
meretricious, but wdiat there has been summoned the shibboleth 
of "patriotism "■ in order to give it an impetus. There has never 
been a tariff law suggested on the floor but that ' ' patriotism " has 
been conjured as an excuse why we should vote against the tax- 
payer, increasing his burdens. There was a law for Congress to 
create a monetary commission and giving them $100, QUO of the 
people's money under the cry of "patriotism," for them to go out 
and legislate more debt and less money for the nation, but up to 
this hour we neither have the information as to what legislation 
they did in our behalf or what they did with the $100,000. 

If some slight account could be made by these estimable gen- 
tlemen, who. I have no doubt, far excel this humble body, as to 
what they have done with the money which went out of the 
Treasury, there may be enough remaining to meet these differ- 
ent pension claims of the dependent and worthy. If we can as- 
certain what that foreign and bimetallic counnission has done 
with the $175,000 which they seem to have taken from the Treas- 
ury to gallivant over the continents, there may be something left 
wilh which we may requite some of these existing demands. 

I have listened too often, Mr. Speaker, to the constant cry of 
"patriotism" as the reason for legislating measure after measure 
here, and only the other day we heard from our honorable friends 
on the other side that patriotism should always drive us into the 
line of action which shall execute the desire of the other side, irre- 
spective of any virttie or vice of the meastire. On this side of the 
■cs:o 3 



House there arises, -now and then, as did my friend from New 
York, the distinguished and lionorable gentleman, Ajios Cum- 
iiiN'GS, who advis-ed this assembly that he -'put his country above 
party," and under that cry certain gentlemen on the floor, under 
his leadership, calling themselves Democrats, found it agreeable 
to support the measure mortgaging the generation and their chil- 
dren yet ixnborn, irrespective of the fundamental justice of it. 

I realize that my friend from New 'York, who holds a high 
place on the floor, and deservedly so. not only from his ability 
but by his long service, may have a right to dictate to a great 
many members both as to Democratic fealty and patriotism; but 
I am moved at this time to ask my friend, when they say they put 
their country above party, above which party do you put your- 
self? [Laughter and applause.] 

It always seems highly appropriate from my distinguished 
friends from New York — who have my constant afitections and my 
equally constant efforts whenever I can serve them— whenever 
stimulated by that magnificent, indescribable buoyancy of ''put- 
ting their country above party," it is always to descend it imme- 
diately to the depths of the Republican party. [Laughter.] 

There never seems a time in the history of my friends when 
their country is entitled to be elevated above the Republican party. 
I rise to ask of my distinguished Republican friends when is it 
that their party ever found it agreeable under the cry of patriot- 
ism to accept any measure which the Democratic party tendered, 
or vote for any proposition coming from this side of the House? 
When, at any hour or imder any circumstances, has it been that 
any measure tendered by my friends on the other side did not have 
the merit of "patriotisin" to recommend it. to give it impetus, 
encouragement, and, with the aid of deluded men, an undeserved 
success? [Applause.] 

Mr. Speaker, iinder the cry of "patriotism," which is ever con- 
jured up for the purpose of putting through any measure here, I 
discover that a set of men who are to be the beneficiaries of this 
" patriotism "under which and by which we yield up the country's 
rights, sacrifice the poor to the pillage of the taxgatherer and to 
those who plunder the Treasury, I discover that this set of gen- 
tlemen w^ho are always above the law, who condemn the income 
tax, who condemn the power of taxation, who cry out that every 
man who opposes their methods is a demagogue or an anarchist, 
I discover this graceful set of gentlemen who are the embodiment 
of public virtue, as the coal trust, selling coal to the Spaniards to 
load their ships to bombard our cities and blow our marines from 
the seas. 

I perceive, on the other hand, that these eminent corporations 
known as railroads have combined in a trust in the West and 
have entered into a league to sell mules and munitions of war to 
Spain that her cavalry may cut down our American soldiers when 
they land to execute the demands of the President. More than 
that, that one of the gun factories of this nation, the owners of 
which have been in the habit of crying out " repudiation " and 
"demagogy "to every effort of honest men to right the -wrongs 
of the poor, is making guns for the. Spanish nation, and when 
called to account for^it give answer they are doing so for the 
"money there is in it." These are specimens of the people who 
are arraying members of this House under the cry of patriotism 
and branding each of us who oppose them as ' ' demagogues," " hyp- 



ocrites," and "anarchists." I take the liberty of making some 
short contrast between the two classes. 

Who are these men who were branded "demagogues," "anarch- 
ists," and " repndiators,"' who are accused of having no respect for 
the Supremo Court, no regard for law, nor reverence for sacred in- 
stitutions—who are thej'? Behold them! I ask again, who arc 
these men who are being termed demagogues and anarchists and 
are ever charged with want of patriotism — that word which, as 
Walpole well said, is ever summoned up when there is a desire to 
execute some evil thing or to play into the hands of the guilty, 
those who rob and pillage the country in the hour of its weakness 
and the day of its credulity? I ask who are these maligned men? 
They are the men who are asking for relief in pensions here to-day. 

They are those poor, unfortunate men who in this hour have 
forgotten the men who cursed them, have forgiven the men who 
defamed them— who are unconscious of the way in which they 
are being robbed and pillaged here by those who should be their 
guardians, who know no enemy but the enemy of their country. 
They are the men who are to-day burnishing up the old muskets, 
drawing the old sword out of the scabbard. They are the men 
who are taking the last leave of an aged mother. They are the 
men who are holding to their bosoms in perhaps a last embrace 
the wives of their souls and dropping a soldier's tear upon the 
face of their children [applause] ; are going to the front to die 
for their country. [Applause.] These are the true patriots of 
this nation. [Applause.] 

For myself, I have grown tired of this constant, prating cry of 
" patriotism " which is ever invoked on the floor of this House 
every time there is an attempt to commit a constitutional wrong. 
[Applause.] 

I have watched day after day to see my friends on the other 
side rise to condemn this thing; I have listened for some voices of 
condemnation from that side, but have heard none save now and 
then a rare exception, such as my distinguished friend from Mas- 
sachusetts [Mr. Walker] , who speaks so patriotically against a 
wrong and unhappily votes for its perpetration. [Laughter and 
applause. ] 

Now, Mr. Speaker, I ask you, do you not agree with me, will 
not this House agree with me, that the hour has arrived when 
we should heed the demands of these worthy pensioners, likewise 
the worthy toiler? Must we meet them with the statement that 
their demands can not be complied with because of the present 
condition of the Treasury? 

The distinguished premier of this House, the leader of the party 
on the other side, the gentleman from Maine [Mr. Dixgley], in- 
formed us the other day of the decaying condition of the Treas- 
ury, and yesterday supplemented his remarks by telling us of the 
possible demands that will be made in order to keep the present 
Army in the field; that such demands will exceed the revenues 
and force further taxation of the people. 

Mr. Speaker, ca,n we support that Army in the field, can we 
equip that Army with a depleted Treasury, and at the same time 
pay these pensions, when there are these increasing mortgages and 
claims upon the nation? Let us consider for a moment the condi- 
tion in which we are placed. When the nation is languishing, 
when there are these tremendous burdens to be borne, can we 
meet these new demands? It is well worthy of consideration, is 
3320 



6 

it not time for tis, uncler these conditions, to pause and reflect 
■where the money is to come from to meet them? 

They are obligations we have assumed to pay; they are obliga- 
tions we are called upon to assume; and howcan wepay them under 
I)resent conditions? Will there be money derived from any source 
to pay your volunteers in the field, and topaj- your pensions after 
the war, unless some man or some party shall rise superior in this 
country in the present conditions and stop the outrages now 
being perpetrated upon the taxpayers by the gilded robbers— the 
steallhy frauds committed against freedom and against honor? 

Mr. Speaker, it is high time that patriotism in this co^^ntry 
shall come to the front, and that mere partisanship shall be, at 
least for the time being, relegated to the rear. [Applause.] Are 
we to continue to sit here idling day after day and let this pro- 
ceeding go on, Congress after Congress, when we see the Treasury 
being robbed, as we have been infoi-med that it is being robbed 
to-day? 

Why, what have we on the record at this very time? We find 
that our nation has contracted for the transportation of its sol- 
diers at §12 each when the regular fare is only $7, in order to 
serve the railroads' injustice. We have the infonnation that 
within a very short time an effort has been made to make a con- 
tract with the Government at $7 for the transportation of our 
troops, and that an effort to make the bid was refused and de- 
clined, and the Government accepted the higher term without 
consideration. Is this true? If so, it must be exposed and repu- 
diated. [Applaiise.] 

Do you think such a condition of affairs can be continued? 
Will there not come a time when the people of this country will 
rise and revolt against it? Has not that time come now? Is it 
not well for us to begin and consider exactly where we stand, that 
we may avoid the results which will surely follow? Do yon not 
think that the hour of patriotism has arrived, when the interests 
of the Government and not the interests of speculators and indi- 
vidual contractors shall be considered? 

This is an hour and a time when real patriotism should have a 
voice in this Chamber, not sham and mock pretense. Our plain . 
and humble fellow-citizens are offering the devotion of their lives 
at the call of our country; shall we not make some sacrifices in . 
their behalf? 

Mr. Speaker, I have no animosity whatever against the pend- 
ing measure. I do not object to the payment of the pension, if a - 
pension is due in this case. I have no opposition to the claimant 
in the case. 1 have no doubt that it is a just and proper claim, 
and one that has been carefully considered and should be paid. I 
have advocated pensions in every speech that I have ever made on 
this floor. I have a large constituency composed of valiant Fed- 
eral soldiers in my Western home. 

Mr, STEELE, 'if the gentleman will allow an interruption, 
this is is not a pension case, but a bill for the relief of a deserter. 
[Laughter.] 

Mr. LEWIS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, my friend from 
Indiana most appropriately calls my attention to the fact that 
this is a deserter's bill, and I answer that that is why I arose. I 
arose to speak of those deserters who are ever deserting the cause 
of the people in the hour when they should be protecting them. 
[Applause on the Democratic side.] I thank my friend from In- 
3330 



(liana, who comes timelj' to my aid; and I now proceed to say to 
friends who may misunderstand my position that the constitu- 
ency that I have the honor in part to represent, witli my able col- 
league here |Mr. Jonks of Washington], is a Ktate in which thtn-o 
are more Federal soldiers, more veterans, in proportion to the 
population, perchance, than in any other State in the Union. 

1 have advocated their i)ensions whenever under the law in jus- 
tice they should have them. I have never found it agreeable to 
make opposition to an honest claim, but I think it is high time, 
and possibly not inappropriate, that where bills are brought in 
promiscuously for the removal of charges of desertion we should 
investigate these things and see whether these men are the kind of 
men who are entitled to exist upon the nation's generosity and 
receive its tribute or whether they might not be standing in the 
way of those men who have never had the charge of desertion 
made against them and who are more entitled to the nation's favors. 

Is it wise, my distinguished friends, with the condition of the 
Treasiiry becoming more and more in a state of deficit, when you 
are taxing the people and doubling their bunlen, when you are 
inttting interest into the hand of the bondholder and fortunes into 
the hands of the contractor, while you are allowing the nation to 
be pillaged on the one side and disgraced on the other, that you 
should forget in an hour like this the patriotism of such eminent 
commanders as those you have on the sea, whose glorious cause 
no man has risen here to praise or applaud? One word of encour- 
agement or cheer may mean much in a desperate conflict. 

Why not, 1 pray you, stop and reflect when they shall be looked 
after, when shall they be prepared for? If you pay out all the 
money you have in the Treasury now wrongfully to contractors, 
jobbers, and bondholders, are you not prohibiting and preventing 
those who may come hereafter from receiving just and proper 
allowance from a generous and grateful nation? 

Mr. Speaker, I have risen to do that which I felt was my 
duty, and that is to announce to this House that so far as I am 
concerned, within such humble capacity as I shall be able to com- 
mand, I do not propose being wooed under the cry of "patriotism" 
to the support and consummation of those things which my 
friend from Illinois, the distinguished Nestor of the House, the 
Hon. Joseph G-. Cannon, of Illinois, has aptly termed an '-iniriui- 
tous and corrupt thing," whenever such shall arise. 

It may not be that any of tlie particular things which have passed 
this House could accurately be. so charged with this ])articular epi- 
thet; but that we have sat here silently too long and permitted the 
contract jobber, with his band of despoilers, to go through the ave- 
nues of this House crying "patriotism " to cover his mean pur- 
poses, none can deny. 

Mr. WALKER of Massachusetts. Will the gentleman allow 
me to ask him a question? 

Mr. LEWIS of Washington. Certainly. 

Mr. WALKER of [Massachusetts. I should be really obliged to 
the gentleman if he will tell the House what he is talking about. 
[Laughter.] 

Mr. LEWIS of Washington. I did not hear the gentleman. 
What was the question? I am Informed by gentlemen around me 
that the gentleman asked me to tell the House what I am talking 
about. Sir, I might assume the burden of explaining to some of 
the members, but there are some men in the House who hereto- 



fore have betrayed stich singular density that I would not un- 
dertake the stupendous obligation of explaining anything to. 
[Laughter and applause on the Democratic side.] Really, speak- 
ing in more detail to my friend from Massachusetts, 1 was par- 
ticularly talking about that class of men who preach the doctrine 
of justice and always vote with the persecutors. [Laughter on 
the Democratic side.] 

Really, I was speaking of that class of men who prate of great 
virtue and protest much in behalf of their constituencies, but ever 
make it pertinent to remain within the party line, lest they should 
be refused some grace of desired recognition from the Speaker. 
[Laughter on the Democratic side.] I am seriously speaking of 
that set of gentlemen who, in an hour like this, might really de- 
velop as true patriots, not as false ones. It was for that occasion 
1 arose. 

Having, as far as I am concerned, expressed to my satisfaction 
to this distinguished House my protest against the constant wrongs 
which have been done in the name of patriotism, I insist that even 
now we investigate to ascertain whether this gentleman who seeks 
to have the charge of desertion removed from him in order that he 
may be put upon the generous rolls of the Government is entitled 
to such. If he is, we shall, under the true impulse of a real 
pati'iotism, come to his rescue; but if he is not, I insist that we 
shall, as against every other crime, every other element of cor- 
ruption, every other initiation of jobbery that shall come here 
during these fat times of war, when every man who would rob 
the Treasury shall find his appropriate hour to do it— that we shall 
stand against it, and care little for the criticism that always criti- 
cises the right when it should be approved, and always protects 
the wrong when it should be condemned. [Applause on the Demo- 
cratic side.] 

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Washing- 
ton for some inscrutable reason has seen fit to embalm me in the 
honey of his intellectuality. [Laughter.] He asks above which 
party does patriotism rise in the House. It rises, Mr. Speaker, 
above both parties. As a war Democrat. I enlisted in the war for 
the Union, not because it was Democratic policy, not because it 
was Republican policy, but because the country was in danger, 
and 1 was due. [Great applause.] 

I say that the true spirit of Democracy is patriotism, and a Demo- 
crat who sneers at patriotism does not deserve the name of Dem- 
ocrat. The gentleman voted, without talking, for the $50,000,000 
apiiropriation. Why did he not think of "contractors" then? 
Was not the time to speak beforehand, and not afterwards? Why 
is it that he is already accusing men in high standing of corruption 
when the war has hardly begun? 

Mr. LEWIS of Washington. But they have. [Laughter and 
ai)i)lause.] 

Mr. CUMMINGS. Make your statements clear, produce your 
proof, and then slander your Government if you must. Do not 
do it under suspicion. [Great applause.] 

Now, Mr. Speaker, I did believe, when I voted for the bill pro- 
posing to raise revenue to carry on this war, and the Democratic 
side of the House almost unanimously voted for war, that I was 
doing fully as patriotic a thing as the gentleman did when he 
voted for the $50,000,000, to be placed at the disposal of the Presi- 
dent without conditions. I believed that if a Democratic Ad- 

3320 



iniiiistration was forced to sell $300,000,000 in Tx)nds to run the 
Government in tunc of ])eaco, that a Republican Administration 
might be allowed to sell bonds enough to run the Government in 
time of war. [Great applause on the Republican side.] 

This action was taken by a President who was indebted to the 
South for his nomination. You who came from the South, went 
into the Democratic national convention over five years ago, and 
rammed Grover Cleveland down the throats of the New York 
Democracy, with its whole delegation strenuously protesting 
against it. You are responsible for him, not we. [Applause.] 

"Mr. GAINES. Do you say that we are responsible for Grover 
Cleveland? 

Mr. CUMMINGS. I say so, knowing it to be so. 

Mr. JONES of Washington. I want to ask the gentleman 

Mr. GAINES. There have been a great many sins charged 
against the South, but I have never before heard it said that Gro- 
ver Cleveland came from the South. 

Mr. CUjMMINGS. It is true. I challenge the record. He was 
nominated and elected by the votes of the South, with his gold 
letter staring you in the face. You forced him down our throats 
against our unanimous protest. Deny it, if j'ou dare. [Loud ap- 
plause.] I say that I did believe and do believe if 

Mr. TALBERT. South Carolina did not vote for him. 

Mr. CUMMINGS. I except South Carolina. She was sensible. 
She did not vote for him. She respected the delegation from New 
York. 

I did believe that if it was necessarj' to sell bonds in time of 
war. we should sell them in sums of $25 and $50 to the mechanica 
and farmers and the honest producing people of the United States 
[applause] . and not, as was done under the Cleveland Administra- 
tion, sell them at private sale to a syndicate that within two 
months netted $8,000,000 for simply turning them over to outside 
parties. [Loud applause.] 

There was no war then, and the safety of the nation was not im- 
periled. I believe, if we must have a loan, in a popular loan. I 
advocated a popular loan when the Cleveland Administration was 
planting the second issue among the syndicates. A popular loan 
will cement the patriotism of the people of the United States, and 
the people will never overflow with gall, as did the gentleman this 
afternoon, in aid of the enemy. I am on record as voting not onl}' 
for the war, but as voting for supplies for the war, and witli that 
record I am content, politics or no politics. [Applau.se.] 

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I have not 1,000,000 six-sj-llable ad- 
jectives to shower on the House. Adjectives are adjectives, and 
votes are votes. I confine my speech to plain Anglo-Saxon. lam 
an Anglo-Saxon; I am an American; I am a Democrat. Patriot- 
ism itself is Democracy. [Loud applause.] 

Mr. LEWIS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, it was about as far 
from my motive as anything you can conceive to arouse the slight- 
est feeling of animosity of any member of this House, and further 
still would it have been from my object to awaken such a magnifi- 
cent storm of indignation as has been displayed in the heroic fac3 
of the stalwart Democrat from New York. I speak as with the 
kindest feelings towardhim. His memorable service in thisHouse 
has been a contribution to this nation. He has even taken occa- 
sion to make some reference to some disparity of situation which 
he claims may have existed between us in the past as to advan- 
3320 



10 

tage of education. He honors me in th^"' expression that I possess 
that which is not enjoyed by himself. 

Let him rest well assured that I claim no such, and if there was 
ever any attainment which God has placed to my service, how- 
over humble or great, if it could be divorced and taken from me, 
I woxild exchange them all for the splendid character and con- 
stant devotion to humanity that we have all observed in the gentle- 
man's past career. [A^jplause,] 

Mr. Speaker, my remarks have not referred to the gentleman's 
personal course. I made reference not to the gentleman's personal 
conduct throughout the avenues of his life. It did not engage my 
attention and it was not my object to make any reference what- 
ever to that; but it was my purpose — and I am glad I have made 
that i^lain to him — to protest in the name of the real Democracy 
against that set of distinguished but misguided intellects whicli 
rise in the hour when our opponents demand them and ask for 
their indorsement of meretricious measures, and, imder the cry of 
patriotism, become deluded by their own enthusiasm and commit 
that which, to the nation, is a crime. [Applause.] 

It was to protest against that feeling on the part of some of my 
Democratic friends, however honest they may be, that feeling 
which leads them to discharge a duty to which they are sum- 
moned by the enemy of the country, to cease the senseless cry of 
' ' their country above party, '' and in the meantime bring their 
country to a level with the Republican party in the hour of their 
demand. 

My friend from New York, for such I trust he may ever be, has 
been greatly applauded by my honorable friends on the other side 
for the utterances which came from him, in which he speaks of 
the service he has done in voting for these bonds. I remind my 
friend that he led a gallant phalanx from the East in support of 
the placing of a mortgage upon the poor of the country, and re- 
ceived some generous applause from my friends on the other side, 
but I want to add a single warning, that he must " beware of the 
Greeks bearing gifts." [Applause.] 

My friends on the other side will applatid any apparent schism 
on this side of the House whenever it appears, also approve any 
course that will procure the aid of my Democratic friends, that 
they may say to the country at large that this measure or that 
measure was nonpartisan. I invite tbe attention of my distin- 
guished friend to one thing. If my honorable Republican friends 
claim this one billion created debt was nonpartisan, if, sirs, it was 
your desire to make it so, in order to justify the assertions of the 
gentleman from New York, why did they, knowing that 6,500,000 
voters of the country had expressed their desires on this ques- 
tion of silver and gold— and yet when a humble member on the 
floor on this side of the House offered an amendment that silver 
should be used to give some little countenance to the views of the 
0,500,000 voters, what was done? It was voted down unanimously 
by a strict party vote, every opportunity being given to the other 
side to demonstrate that it was a nonpartisan measure, and they 
refused it, treating each one in turn contemptuously. 

My friend says that " I slander the Government's officers.'' I, 
sir, have not assumed to mention any officers. I have not slan- 
dered any officer or attempted to do so. All I have done on this 
floor was to speak the truth about those gentlemen as it has ap- 
peared in the public record. 



11 

I have said that wliich you all do know, gentlemen — that tiie 
coal trnsfs agents wore colleaguing with the enemy of this coun- 
try: that these "business patriots" in the sight of the nation, 
deliberately loaded a vessel with coal to take to the Si)anish fleet 
to use against our homes and countrymen, and this while au 
American vessel stood at its door knocking for coal: and when 
Commodore Schley forced recognition to his demand these pa- 
triots charged an American ship in an American port a dollar 
more on a ton than they did for the coal to these S])anish enemies. 
Had I b?en the Attorney-General of the United States I would 
have apprehended them as traitors for violating the laws of their 
country against giving aid or comfort to the enemy. I would 
have sent them to the companionship of Benedict Arnold. Both 
sold their country for gold. And yet a member on this side of the 
House who sought to denounce them, a member who seeks to ex- 
press his honest convictions against a bill mortgaging the resources 
and strength of the country to vultures, is held up to the nation 
as a demagogue and disloyal to the country's welfare. 

When has it come to be a familiar truth that in order to be a 
Democrat a man must either rise above or sink beneath his party? 
I say that with the true Democrat there can be no such cry as 
O ' ' My country before m y pirty. " With him the cr ,v must be, ' • My 
■~ country and' my party; for without my party I would not have 
. had my country.'' [Applause.] This alone can be the real posi- 
— ' tion of the ti-ue party man, wherever he is, if he be a true Demo- 
crat, measured by the standard of a rejuvenated Democracj-. 

Mr. Speaker, one word to my distinguished friends on the other 
side, and then I am done. I speak to them without personal feel- 
ing and with a sentiment of the highest personal regard — I speak 
confidentially and frankly — when I say it is not my purpose in any 
wise to demonstrate that either party of this House bore any en- 
mity or ill feeling to those who now have charge of Government 
affairs. My friend on the other side has asked why, when I voted 
for the $.')0,OOO.OiX) appropriation, 1 did not then cry out against 
these contractors, bir. there has never bean an hour or a moment 
when I have occupied the floor but that every expression from my 
lips, if construed correctly, must have been construed as a protest 
against the whole army of these omnivorous culprits who never 
lose a chance of fattening upon their country. 

These who beat down the defenseless to serve some guilty 
cause — I could not then anticipate that these men, iinder the cry 
of '• patriotism," would seize the opportunity to impose upon the 
confidence of those who trusted theni. It was when I obtained 
information through the public press, through the channels of the 
party papers of the present Administration, and from the very 
voices of the men in command of this Government, that I seized 
upon the very first moment permitted under the rules to raise 
my protest, which, if not popular in this honorable branch of the 
Government, will be recognized and approved for the honesty of 
its intent by those who are most interested because they are the 
most opiiressed. 

I rise here to denounce, if it must be, any measure, whether ad- 
vocated by men in control of our Government or by men who are 
without, that looks to the further thraldom and en.slavement of 
those who should bo rescued in an hour like this: whose patriot- 
ism should be encouraged if we hope that they shall go to the 
front to tender their lives for a nation which should bo their 
guardian and protector, not their oppressor and destroyer, 
33:i0 



